Letters to the Churches

Every high priest is appointed from among men to represent them in matters relating to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins.

He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is beset by weakness.

That is why he is obligated to offer sacrifices for his own sins, as well as for the sins of the people.

No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was.

So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.”

And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.

And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him

and was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.

Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to reteach you the basic principles of God’s word. You need milk, not solid food!

For everyone who lives on milk is still an infant, inexperienced in the message of righteousness.

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained their senses to distinguish good from evil.

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith in God,

instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

And this we will do, if God permits.

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit,

who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age—

and then have fallen away—to be restored to repentance, because they themselves are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to open shame.

For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God.

But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned.

Even though we speak like this, beloved, we are convinced of better things in your case—things that accompany salvation.

For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.

We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.